Retaining device for pumps, slippers, and the like



March 3, 1931. A. L. HOWARD I 1,794,959

RETAINING DEVICE FOR PUMPS, SLIPPERS, AND THE LIKE Filed June 18.. 1928 Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED \STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT L. HOWARD, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 HAMILTON-WADE COMPANY, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION RETAINING DEVICE FOR PUMPS, SLIPIERS, AN D THE LIKE Application filed June 18,

This invention relates to a device for retaining low shoes, dancing pumps, slippers, and like foot-wear upon the feet, and particularly upon the feet of ladies.

The invention has for its object to provide a retaining device of the character referred to, which is of pleasing external appearance, which is frictionally held in its proper place on the foot, which is adjustable to feet of different sizes, and which is substantially inexpensive.

To this end, the retaining device is provided with a strap member adapted to encircle the foot substantially at the instep portion thereof, and provided on its inner surface with a non-slipping member which serves to hold the strap member from movement on the foot and shoe, and said strap member has secured to it an ornamental member which is located at the instep-engaging portion of the strap and imparts a dressy and pleasing appearance to the retaining device.

The strap member is preferably made of patent or like leather and has its ends connected by an extensible member or piece of elastic goring, which is connected with the ends of the strap member by suitable buckles to permit the strap member to be adjusted to fit feet of different sizes.

The non-slipping member is preferably made as a strip of woven rubber fabric.

These and other features of the invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Fig. 1 represents a ladys foot provided with a shoe held thereon by a retaining device embodying this invention;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the retaining device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8, a front elevation of the retaining device;

Fig. 4, a section on the line 4l4, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5, a section on the line 55, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing a represents the strap member composed of a strip 10 of leather, preferably patent or enamel leather, a layer or strip 12 of cloth or like fabric, which is narrower than the leather strip and is cemented to the inner side thereof to provide the leather strip with side flaps 13, which 1928. Serial No. 286,345.

are folded over the side edges of the cloth strip and secured thereto by stitches 14 and otherwise.

The cloth strip 12 has cemented or otherwise aiiizred to it a strip of woven rubber fabric 15 of a width substantially equal to the space betwen the side flaps 13 and of a thickness greater than that of the side flaps, so that the rubber strip 15 projects beyondthe side flaps 13 and forms a friction or holding member which serves to prevent the retaining device from slipping on the foot 17 and on the'slipper or shoe l8 thereon.

The strap member a has its ends connected together by a piece 20 of elastic goring, which is capable of being stretched to enable the strap member to be readily slipped over the foot and the shoe thereon.

The piece 20 of elastic goring is preferably secured to the ends of the strap member a by buckles 23 having intermediate cross bars about which the elastic goring 20 is passed and then secured together at its ends to form a loop.

The ends of the leather strip 10 are engaged with the buckles 23 in a manner well understood and as represented in Fig. 3, to adjust ably secure said ends to the extensible member or goring 20.

The strap member a is thus made adjustable to feet of different sizes, and by means of the buckles 23, the ends of the leather strip 10 may be adjusted equally, so that when the strap member is provided with an ornamental center piece as herein shown, the latter will be in the same position with relation to the foot 24 in all adjustments of the strap memher.

The ornamental center piece may be of any desired design, and in the present instance comprises a piece 30 of patent or like leather having a scalloped edge 31 and ametal ornament 82.

The leather member 30 of the center piece may be secured to the strap member a by a metal staple 33 (see Fig. 5), and the metal ornament 32 may be secured to the leather member 30 by stitches 34.

The strap member a and the elastic goring 20 form a loop as represented in Fig. 3, which can be slipped over and under the toe portion of the slipper or shoe 35 and carried back until the looped strap member engages the shank portion of the shoe and the portion of the stocking covering the instep of the foot see Fig. 1) and when thus positioned the de viceserves to effectively retain the slipper or shoe on the foot. v The friction member 15 of the retaining device serves togrip the shoe and the foot and prevents the retaining device slipping down toward-the toe portion of the shoe. I

'ihe ornamental centerpiece may be made of any desired shape.

' One embodiment of the invention is herein shown but it is no't'desired to limit the inven:

tion to the particular con 'truction shown.

What is claimed is: l. A retaining device capable of being slipped over the toe portion of a shoe when on the foot, said retaining device comprising a strap member provided its inner side with a friction member of greater gripping properties than said strap member, an elastic member, and buckles connecting said ela member with the ends of sit-id strep member y and arra-ngedto permitadjustment of the stravp with relation to the buckles, saidfriction member being arranged with relation, to the. strap to extend across the instep oi foot and a substantial distance down each side of the foot to frictionelly engage with the foot and portion of the shoe, 7

' 2, 'A retaining device capable of being slipped over the toe portion of a shoe when on thefoot, said retaining device having a strap member composed of an outer strip of leather, an inner strip of fabric upon which the sides of said outer strip are folded and secured thereto, and a strip of rubber fabric secured to said inner fabric strip between the folded sides of the outer strip to form, a nonslipping member for said strap member.

3. A retainingdevice capable of being slipped over the toe portion of a shoe whenv on the footsaid retaining device comprising a leather strap member provided on its inner side with a rubber friction member, buckles adjustably secured to each end of the strap,

an elastic member secured to the buckles for connecting together the ends of the strap, and an ornamental member on theoutside of the strap at or near the center thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT L. HOWARD 

